Latch



Filed July 9. 19

F. BAKER LATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

mi I V Z July 13, 1954 i A. F; BAKER LATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 9, 1948 INVENTOR. 141%,; 7,5

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ll-ll Patented July 13, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LATCH Application July 9, 1948, Serial No. 37,778

15 Claims.

This invention relates generally to latch mechanisms and more especially to that type of latch mechanism which is used for holding closed the rear deck of a motor vehicle.

Objects of this invention are to provide a new and improved latch of the character described; to provide such a latch which is economical of manufacture and trouble free in operation; to provide such a latch having as few parts as possible which might tend to wear or get out of order; to provide such a latch which may be made of stamped parts and which may be easily assembled with a minimum of skilled help and time.

ther objects of this invention will be apparent from the drawings, specification, and the hereinafter appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which like characters are used to designate like parts throughout,

Figure 1 shows a rear deck of an automobile provided with a latch embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of a latch and keeper embodying the invention;

Fig. 3 is a view of the latch and keeper embodying the invention and taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. 2, parts thereof being broken away to entirely expose the operating and locking levers of the latch structure;

Fig. 4 is a view taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a View taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the latch in its released position ready for upward movement of the rear deck cover.

Referring to the drawings by the characters of reference, the numeral I designates generally a motor vehicle having a rear deck 2 provided with a latch structure generally designated 4 and having an operating handle 6 and a key-operated mechanism 8. The latch structure 4 comprises generally a channel-shaped supporting member I0 having attaching flanges 12 projecting outwardly from the longitudinally extending side edges of the channel member It to provide a housing for carrying a rotatable lever I l, connected by means of a link IE, to a pair of bolts [8 which engage with a keeper 20. Preferably, the latch 4 is carried by the deck 2 and the keeper 20 is carried by the motor vehicle body. The key mechanism 8 is actuatable by a suitable key to rotate a square shaft 22, thereby rotating a locking or blocking lever 24 into and out of the path of movement of the rotatable lever I4,

whereby the lever [A is rendered ineffective and effective to withdraw the bolts [8 from the keeper 2B.

A channel-shaped member 26 is located in face-to-face relation within the channel-shaped member H] and has its parallelly extending side walls 28 abutting against the inner surface of the channel member [0 whereby the base portion 30 of the channel member 25 is positioned in spaced relation with the inner face 32 of the bottom wall of the channel-shaped member It, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4. If desired an outstruck tab 55 may be provided on the lower portion of member 26 to project through an aperture in the base portion of member i0, and the parallelly extending walls 28 may have outwardly extending lugs (not shown) projecting through apertures in the base portion of the channel member Ii] and bent down thereagainst to hold the member 26 to the member H] or the same may be secured together otherwise if desired. The base portion 30 is apertured concentrically with the center of rotation of the lever it as at 34. The aperture 34 is preferably made by piercing during which process an annular peripheral shoulder 36 is provided about the aperture 34 facing the surface 32. This shoulder cooperates with a recess 38 of the lever I4. The lever I4 is further provided with a shoulder 40 which is received and journaled within an aperture M in the base portion of the channel memher [0, aligned with the aperture 34. Rotation of the lever I4 is accomplished by a squared shaft 42 extending Within a mating hole in the lever l4 and which shaft 4 2 is operatively connected with the handle 6 and rotated thereby, for withdrawing the bolts l8 from the keeper 2!) as will be more specifically set out hereinafter.

The lower end 44 of the lever M is offset, and carries a pin 45 for pivotally connecting the portion 4 8 to one end of the link It. The other end of the link It carries a pin 48 having a head 50 which is guided by and slidable in a slot 52 in a plate member 5 carried by the parallelly extending side portions of the U-shaped member I0 adjacent the lower end portion thereof, lying in the plane of the flanges I2 The pin 48 also serves to pivotally connect the upper end portions of the bolts 18 to the link It.

The base portion of the channel-shaped member H3 extends downwardly beyond the side portions thereof to provide a tongue 56, and plate 54 has a similar tongue formed on its lower end. When the deck cover 2 is in closed position, the tongue 56 extends into an aperture 58 of the keeper 2D. The lower end portion of the tongue 56 is laterally offset and riveted to the tongue portion of plate 54, and the side walls 65 of this offset portion define a substantially V-shaped cam or guide 6 for controlling movement of the lower portion of the bolts l8 which have cam surface portions engageable therewith. The bolts l8 straddle the cam 60 for a purpose which will be made clear presently.

To hold the lever [4 in either of its two positions it is provided with a cam surface 62 against which the lower end of a spring E i engages, the upper end of the spring (it being secured to one wall of the channel-shaped member Ill in a suitable manner. With the lever l4 in its latching position (Fig. 3), the lower end of the spring 64 engages a shoulder portion 56 of the cam surface 62 whereby the spring 6% will resiliently hold the lever 14 against counterclockwise rotation. With the lever ill in its unlatched position (Fig. 6), the lower end of the spring 54 engages the surface 82 adjacent a second shoulder 58 whereby the spring E l will yieldably hold the lever It in its bolt-released or unlatched position.

The member ii! is apertured to provide a bearing surface it in which a shoulder 72 of the locking lever 2:3 is journaled for rotation. The lever 26 has a blocking surface is which upon clockwise movement of the lever 2% to the position shown in Fig. 3, will lie in the path of movement of a shoulder 15 of the lever it whereby the lever It is prevented from sufhcient counterclockwise rotation from the position shown in Fig. 3 to release the bolts !8 from the keeper 29. The locking position of the lever is determined by engagement of a shoulder 18 thereof with one of the walls 28. Upon counterclockwise rotation of the locking lever 25 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 6, the surface 14 will be moved out of the path of movement of the shoulder 76 whereby the lever it may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, to withdraw the bolts 58 from the keeper 2i] and permit opening movement of the deck lid 2. The unlocked position of the lever 24 is determined by engagement of shoulder 80 of the lever 24 with one of the side walls 28 of the member 25 as shown in Fig. 6.

The keeper 29 is preferably fabricated from a sheet steel member and includes a pair of ,oppositely extending flanges I and m2 which may be suitably secured to a vehicle body member :04 as by means of bolts E05 extending through slotted apertures in the flanges H16 and N2, the slotted apertures serving to provide limited ad justment between the vehicle body portion its and the keeper 2i! for adjusting purposes. These flanges extend horizontally at either side of a body portion which slopes therefrom toward the tongue portions of member i6 and plate 56. The sheet metal keeper member 223 has a substantially rectangular aperture 58 punched therein in a manner to provide rebent side wall portions or shoulders I08. Flanges I56, IE2 and IE8 extend downwardly (Figure 2) to form the sides of a downwardly directed extension closing one side of aperture 58. The vehicle body member I95 is preferably of dished or similar construction as shown in Figures 2 and 3 to provide space for shoulders Hi8 and the bolt parts which extend through aperture 58.

With the deck lid 2 in closed position the tongue extends into the aperture 58 so that as the lever M is rotated clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 6 toward that shown in Fig. 3, the bolts [8 will be moved downwardly astraddle the cam 60 outwardly and downwardly into locking engagement with the shoulders I08, such movement being guided by the slot 52. The bolts 18 are provided with flanges H0 to provide the necessary contact area with the shoulder H18.

The bolts l8 are also somewhat wedge-shaped, they being of a somewhat greater width adjacent the inner portion thereof than at the outer end portion. Also the shoulders I08 and flanges H9 extend laterally at a slight angle from a plane perpendicular to the plane of movement of the bolts 1'8, or angularly to the plane of flanges i513 and I02. In this manner the movement of the bolts I8 into locking engagement with the keeper .28 will cause them to wedge themselves between the cam 60 and the shoulders [08 whereby the deck lid 2 will be securely held against rattling. The angle imparted to the shoulders H38 and flanges H0 acts to pull the lid portion carrying the latch structure 4 inwardly relative to the portion of the vehicle body to additionally secure the lid in a manner to assure positive closure thereof and to prevent rattling. Movement of the lever 14 in its clockwise direction is limited by engagement with an edge face H2 of the tab 55 which face is preferably so located as to permit a slight overcenter movement of the pin 46 with respect to the pin 48 and shaft 42 whereby any tendency for the bolts to move outwardly of their astraddle position will be opposed by the positive engagement of the lever M with the face H2.

When it is desired to open the deck lid 2, the handle 5 is rotated to rotate the lever M in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 6 whereby the bolts l8 are withdrawn inwardly out of engagement with the shoulders [08 thereby releasing the portion of the latch carried by the deck lid 2 from the keeper 20 to permit opening movement of the deck lid 2.

What is claimed and is desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a latch structure for latching together two bodies, a keeper adapted to be secured to one of said bodies and having a pair of spaced abutments, a latch casing adapted to be secured to the other of said bodies, acam carried by one of said bodies and having a pair of cam surfaces projecting between said abutments, a pair of bolts movably carried by said casing, and bolt actuating means operable to move said bolts against said cam surfaces whereby said bolts are wedged between said cam surfaces and said abutments for latching said bodies together.

2. In a latch structure for latching together two bodies one of which bodies is provided with a pair of spaced abutments, .a support adapted to be secured to and carried by the other of said bodies, an actuating link carried by said support, a pair of bolts, a pin pivotally securing said bolts to said link, cam means carried by said support and cooperable with said bolts to guide the movement thereof under the actuation of said link, and a guide slot in said support and receiving said pin for guiding said link whereby said link is operable to wedge said bolts between said cam means and said abutments.

3. In a latch structure for latching together two bodies, a support adapted to be secured to and carried by one of said bodies, a keeper adapted to be secured to and carried by the other of said bodies and having a pair of spaced abutments, a movable actuating link carried by said support, a pair of bolts pivotally carried by said link, and V-shaped cam means having its apex directed toward said link and projecting between said abutments, one of said bolts being engageable with one side of said cam means, the other of said bolts being engageable with another side of said cam means whereby movement of said link toward said apex will wedge said bolts between said cam means and said abutments.

4. In a latch structure for latching together two bodies, a support adapted to be secured to and carried by one of said bodies, a keeper adapted to be secured to and carried by the other of said bodies and having a pair of nonparallel spaced abutments tapering inwardly in the direction of said support, a first rotatable lever journaled on said support and having an actuating arm, a pair of bolts. a link, means pivotally connecting one end portion of each of said bolts to one end of said link, means pivotally connecting said link to said arm, and cam means carried by said support and having spaced nonparallel cam surfaces projecting between said abutments and tapering inwardly in the same direction as said abutments, one of said bolts having a cam surface engageable with one of said spaced cam surfaces, the other of said bolts having a cam surface engageable with another of said spaced cam surfaces, said lever being rotatable for moving said link one end whereby said bolts are moved relative to said cam means for wedging said bolts between said cam means and said abutments.

5. In a latch for cooperation with spaced tion, said element acting upon movement in one direction to move said bolts relative to said cam for spreading said bolts whereby they are operable to latchingly engage with said shoulders.

6. In a latch for cooperation with spaced shoulders of a keeper, a supporting structure, a

lever rotatably carried by said structure, a pair of bolts, a link pivotally carried by said lever, means pivotally securing said bolts to said link at one end portion thereof, and a V-shaped cam carried by said structure and having its apex directed toward said pivotal securing means, said bolts straddling said cam, and means guiding said link end portion whereby upon rotation of said lever said link will move said bolts relative to said cam and said cam will direct said bolts whereby they are operable to latchingly engage with said shoulders.

7. In a latch, a channel-like structure having a base and spaced side walls extending outwardly from said base, said side walls having outturned flange portions, said base having a tongue projecting longitudinally beyond the termini of said side walls at one end portion of said structure, said tongue being provided with a V-shaped wall extending outwardly therefrom in the same direction as said side walls forming a cam having its apex pointed toward the other end of said structure, a pair of bolts pivotally secured together at one portion, each said bolt having cam follower portions, one of said portions being engageable with a surface portion of said V- shaped wall at one side of said apex, the other of said portions being engageable with another surface portion of said V-shaped wall at the other side of said apex from said one side, and means carried by said structure for moving the pivoted portion of said bolts toward and away from said apex whereby the angle between said bolts may be increased and decreased.

8. The combination of claim 7 in which said first-mentioned structure end portion is provided with a platelike member carried by said flanges to provide a chamber for said bolts, and wherein said platelike member is provided with a guide slot for guiding the movement of th pivotally secured portion of said bolts.

9. In a latch, a channel-like structure having a base and spaced side walls extending outwardly from said base, said side walls terminating inwardly from one end portion of. said base to provide a pair of openings, said base being deformed upwardly adjacent said one end portion to provide a V-shaped end wall extending outwardly from the plane of said base with the apex of said end wall pointing toward the other end portion of said base, a platelike member car ried by said side walls and having a tongue overlying and spaced from said first-mentioned base end portion, a pair of bolts positioned between and guided by said first-mentioned base end portion and said platelike member, a pin pivotally joining one end portion of said bolts, the other end portion of said bolts being located one at either side of said end wall, the minimum included angle between said bolts being determined by said end wall, and means carried by said structure for moving said pin toward and away from said apex whereby said last-mentioned bolt end portions are caused to project through and withdraw into said openings.

10. The combination of claim 9 in which said last-named means includes a rotatable lever journaled in said base.

11. In a latching structure for locking together two bodies, a support adapted to be secured to and carried by one of said bodies, a keeper adapted to be secured to and carried by the other of said bodies, said keeper being apertured to provide spaced wall portions, said support having a portion received within said aperture when said bodies are in a position to be latched, a cam carried by said support portion within said aperture and substantially midway between said wall portions, said cam having spaced cam surfaces, the spacing of said cam surfaces being less than the distance between said wall portions to provide a pair of passageways, a bolt actuating element carried by said structure, and a pair of bolts operatively connected to said element and actuatable thereby from a retracted position in which said bolts are out of engagement with said wall portions into a latching position in which said bolts lie within said passageways, said bolts being of sufiicient dimension to completely bridge one dimension of said passageways whereby they concurrently engage said cam surfaces and said wall portions.

12. In a latching structure for locking together two bodies, a support adapted to be secured to and carried by one of said bodies, a keeper adapted to be secured to and carried by the other of said bodies, said keeper having a flanged aperture, said flanges being rebent inwardly to provide oppositely inclined wall portions, said support having a, portion received within said aper- 7 ture when said bodies are in a position to be latched, a cam carried by said support portion within said aperture and substantially midway between said wall portions, said cam having spaced cam surfaces lying in oppositely inclined planes substantially parallel to the respective planes of said wall portions, the spacing of said cam surfaces being less than the distance between said wall portions, a bolt actuating element carried by said structure, and a pair of bolts operatively connected with said element and actuatable thereby from a retracted position in which said bolts are out of engagement with said wall portions into a latchin position in which said bolts lie within the spaces between said cam surfaces and said wall portions, said bolts being of sufficient dimension to wedge between said cam surfaces and said wall portions.

13. In a structure for latching a hinged rear deck cover of a motor vehicle, a keeper carried by a fixed portion of said vehicle, said keeper having a generally rectangular aperture having spaced end walls provided with inturned rebent flanges and having a front wall connecting said end walls and displaced downwardly below the lower surface of said flanges, a bolt supporting structure carried by said cover and having a projecting tongue adapted when said cover is closed to extend into said aperture between said end walls, said tongue being spaced from the plane of said front wall whereby said tongue will pass out of said aperture upon opening of said cover, a V-shaped cam carried adjacent the outer edge of said tongue and having its apex pointing toward one end of said structure and away from said outer edge, a bolt actuating element carried by said structure and spaced from said apex, a pair of bolts carried by said element and arranged astraddle said cam, and operating means for moving said element toward and away from said apex whereby said bolts are movable along opposite sides of said cam into wedging engagement with said rebent flanges.

14. In a latch for latching together two bodies, a keeper adapted to be secured to one of said bodies and having an abutment, a latch supporting structure adapted to be secured to the other of said bodies, a cam carried by one of said bodies in side-by-side relation with said abutment and having a portion inclined toward said abutment, the abutment being inclined so as to face away from said latch supporting structure and to substantially face said cam, a bolt movably carried by said structure, and bolt actuating means operable to move said bolt against said cam, the opposed surfaces of said cam and abutment being spaced to admit the bolt therebetween and said cam coacting with the bolt to guide it into engagement with said inclined abutment whereby said bolt is wedged by said cam against said inclined abutment to latch said bodies together.

15. In a latch keeper, a member having a apertured central portion and peripheral flange portions defining the sides and ends of said aper ture, and rebent portions at opposite sides of said aperture extending between the ends thereof to provide latch engaging shoulders, each of said shoulders having a surface inclined away from said aperture, the lateral extent of each shoulder between the ends of said aperture being continuous and said shoulders sloping laterally and downwardly with respect to said flange portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 928,014 Wooley July 13, 1909 969,870 Holmes Sept. 13, 1910 1,167,745 Decker Jan. 11, 1916 1,197,420 Wizorek Sept. 5, 1916 1,264,814 Kornstein Apr. 30, 1918 1,332,958 Segal Mar. 9, 1920 1,530,655 Dowling Mar. 24, 1925 1,886,494 Mitchell Nov. 8, 1932 2,053,681 Pascoo Sept. 8, 1936 2,099,456 Sweet Nov. 16, 1937 2,229,321 Bauer et al Jan. 21, 1941 2,333,465 Claud-Mantle Nov. 2, 1943 2,377,725 Smith June 5, 1945 2,446,206 Beckman Aug. 3, 1948 

